PCB Pirates open home slate against seasoned opponent

Published: Friday, June 6, 2014 at 08:22 PM.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Panama City Beach Pirates are playing a bit of catch-up with their division rivals, but at least they are doing so with a full contingent of players.

The Pirates kick off their Southeast Division campaign in the Premier Development League when they host Southwest Florida at the Mike Gavlak Sports Complex. The semipro men’s soccer game begins at 7:15 p.m.

PCB (0-1) has yet to play a divisional foe, and the Pirates are squaring off against a Southwest Florida team that already has played six games and currently leads the Southeast with a 3-1-2 record and 11 points. PCB was shorthanded in a pair of losses to start the year, the first of which was a preseason game against the Charleston Battery, a pro team, and the second a game against former division rival Mississippi.

Pirates goalkeeper Sean Lewis has returned for his second season and will spearhead a defense that has been stingy the past two seasons under head coach Greg DeVito. A number of new faces will be positioned in front of Lewis, however, and he said it is important for the defense to coalesce quickly.

“It’s all about getting to know each other,” said Lewis, 22. “This year we have to speed that up.”

DeVito noted that the team has practiced with a full roster only for a week and a half as PCB awaited the arrival of players from their college programs. Lewis, who plays collegiately at Oakland University in Michigan, said road trips to South Carolina and Mississippi to begin the season were beneficial even if the team didn’t get the results it desired.

“The guys that were out of school in time, it was cool to have that experience with each other and get that baptism by fire,” Lewis said. “It brought us closer together. We just wished we had a complete squad.”

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The Panama City Beach Pirates are playing a bit of catch-up with their division rivals, but at least they are doing so with a full contingent of players.

The Pirates kick off their Southeast Division campaign in the Premier Development League when they host Southwest Florida at the Mike Gavlak Sports Complex. The semipro men’s soccer game begins at 7:15 p.m.

PCB (0-1) has yet to play a divisional foe, and the Pirates are squaring off against a Southwest Florida team that already has played six games and currently leads the Southeast with a 3-1-2 record and 11 points. PCB was shorthanded in a pair of losses to start the year, the first of which was a preseason game against the Charleston Battery, a pro team, and the second a game against former division rival Mississippi.

Pirates goalkeeper Sean Lewis has returned for his second season and will spearhead a defense that has been stingy the past two seasons under head coach Greg DeVito. A number of new faces will be positioned in front of Lewis, however, and he said it is important for the defense to coalesce quickly.

“It’s all about getting to know each other,” said Lewis, 22. “This year we have to speed that up.”

DeVito noted that the team has practiced with a full roster only for a week and a half as PCB awaited the arrival of players from their college programs. Lewis, who plays collegiately at Oakland University in Michigan, said road trips to South Carolina and Mississippi to begin the season were beneficial even if the team didn’t get the results it desired.

“The guys that were out of school in time, it was cool to have that experience with each other and get that baptism by fire,” Lewis said. “It brought us closer together. We just wished we had a complete squad.”

Lewis was instrumental in the Pirates’ second-place finish in the Southeast last year and their first-ever postseason appearance. He allowed only 11 goals in 14 division games and posted five shutouts. Like each of his teammates, Lewis is trying to improve on the field and bolster his chances of advancing his career on a pro team.

“For me, being 6-foot-1, I need to improve coming out on crosses and be a little more aggressive,” Lewis said. “Hopefully after this season I can get signed to a team at the next level and soon after be a starting goalkeeper somewhere.”

DeVito said he has seen a boost in confidence in his goalkeeper now that Lewis is a second-year player.

“He feels at home,” DeVito said. “He has a good foundation from last year.”

The Pirates may have ground to make up in the division standings, but they are only five points out of second place in the pursuit of another playoff bid.

“For our team, we try to approach every match like we want three points (via victory),” DeVito said. “It’s added motivation when you have your home fans rooting for you and you have to perform for them.”